Chapter 19

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The thought of having a white Christmas made Kate a little giddy. It had been flurrying on and off for days, but tomorrow they were supposed to get real snow, at least six inches.

It made her happy, but then lately, a lot of things made her happy. She and David were learning the ins and outs of dealing with each other. He called her every day just to say hello or to see if she needed anything. They’d gone out a few times when he sensed she was feeling lonely, grabbing a bite to eat at Piccolo’s, or wandering around the bookstore near his house. They kept it simple, but David made Kate feel like she mattered. She, in turn, was learning to depend on him.

One day he didn’t call, but instead showed up with a Christmas tree lashed to the roof of his truck, a pizza, and three old Christmas movies on DVD. He knew she couldn’t get a tree and decorate it on her own, so he took care of it for her. She was really touched that she was on his mind, and he had given up yet another Saturday night out to be with her. They’d decorated the tree, and every time she walked by, she thought about David, on a step ladder, placing and replacing the angel on the top until it was just right. Then when they were done, he built a fire, she made popcorn, and they stayed up until three in the morning watching It’s a Wonderful Life and the old version of Miracle on 34th Street. It was a picture perfect December evening.

Kate walked him to the door and he said his goodnight. But this time, instead of the platonic kiss on the cheek she’d been getting the past two weeks, David folded her in his arms and dropped a bone-melting kiss on her lips. They stood kissing by the open back door, with light snow blowing around them for several minutes until Kate had to come up for air. David looked at her with the most amazing expression on his face. He was trying to tell her something, trying to get her to understand that he was going to be with her no matter what happened.

Kate loved the feel of his arms around her, of his soft lips, his smell… she basically just loved him. Their relationship was changing, quickly, and Kate didn’t know if she could stop it, or if she even wanted to. He owned her heart, but she was still uncertain if she owned his. There were signs, but Kate had never been more scared in her life. She was also willing to take the risk.

Tonight David was taking her to dinner in the city. She offered to make them something at the house, but he said he wanted to take her out, so he made reservations at a beautiful Italian restaurant on Rittenhouse Square. She’d had her dress picked out for three days and was imagining how the evening might go. Rittenhouse was stunning at Christmas. The lights made it the most romantic place in the city. Kate realized she was completely charmed, but David wasn’t trying to finesse her, and this wasn’t one of his big gestures, this was about her. He was leaving on a short road trip before Christmas, then going to see his sister in Toronto. So this would be their last night together for over a week, and David said he wanted to make it special.

Everything was perfect until she pulled in the driveway and saw Marie’s hybrid parked in Richard’s old spot. The mudroom door was open and she could only imagine what was going on inside.

Kate forgot about the presents in the trunk of her car and proceeded quietly when she heard the voices from upstairs. Marie and Laura. Not knowing if she should be angry or upset, Kate dropped her bag and walked up the stairs. Laura’s bedroom door was open and Marie was standing in the doorway of Kate’s room, surveying the scene. “I had no idea your mother was a slob,” Marie said.

“She’s not usually,” Laura called. “Why?”

“The room is a mess. I wonder if her boyfriend is moving in.”

“I don’t know,” Laura answered.

“Why is she hiding him?” Marie turned and ran smack into Kate. “Oh!”

“What’s going on?” Kate snarled and folded her arms.

Marie took a step back and leaned against the railing. Kate used to think she was exotic looking, now she couldn’t imagine why. Marie’s bones protruded from beneath her clothes and her jet black hair fell in a silky sheet to her shoulders. She looked irritable and rigid. “Kate, you startled me.”

“Imagine that. You being in my house and all. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Laura’s packing,” Marie said.

“Packing? For the ski trip?” Kate clarified for her.

“No,” Marie began, hesitating a little too much for Kate’s comfort. “She’ll be staying with us until the custody hearing.”

The words hit Kate like a fist in the gut, but she forced herself to recover when she thought about everything that was at stake. Everything was at stake. “Says who?”

“Richard thinks it’s best.” Marie folded her arms and pursed her thin, red lips.

“Is that so? Screw Richard,” Kate said in response.

“Really Kate, can’t we be civilized?”

“Civilized? You call what you and my husband did civilized?”

“We’d like to have Laura with us and she wants to be there. Richard and I are planning a family and we think—”

“A family? You and Richard? How are you going to do that?”

“I’m a healthy, fertile woman. Many women my age are having children. In fact, I may have recently conceived.”

Kate folded her arms and stifled the laugh that so wanted to escape. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“Tell me what?”

Kate swallowed hard before continuing, knowing full well she was losing the battle, but she was going to take her best shot. “He didn’t tell you about his vasectomy.”

Marie’s eyes widened. “Vasectomy?”

“He got it about thirteen years ago. He didn’t want any more children after Laura.”

“You’re evil,” Marie said. “You’d say anything to hurt us.”

At that point, Laura was standing in the doorway of her room with a box on her hip. The look on her face could only be described as confused. Laura didn’t know what to do.

“And I’m supposed to just give her up?” Kate said, advancing on Marie. “Let you walk out of here with my child?” Kate turned toward Laura, who wouldn’t look at either of them.

“Kate, really,” Marie said. “She’ll be gone in a year and a half. If you truly love her, let her have a real family for a change.”

Kate spun at her and hissed, not even recognizing her own voice. “She had a real family until you took it from her.”

“Richard and I are her family.” A quiet settled over them as soon as Marie said it.

“Is that what you want, Laura?”

Laura couldn’t answer. Kate, who didn’t think anything could undo her as much as the divorce, found her heart hurting so much she couldn’t speak. Never in her life had Kate felt more alone or more isolated. Her daughter didn’t say a word, and Kate didn’t know what was holding her back.

Laura retreated to her bedroom and left her future stepmother to deliver the final blows. Marie stared at her. “I’ve been more of a mother to her than you will ever be, Kate. Let her go.”

Kate was about to respond, but out of nowhere a twisting pain, a tore through her stomach and lower back making Kate double over. “Oh, God.”

“Please, Kate,” Marie sniffed. “Must you be so melodramatic?”

Kate couldn’t respond and using the wall behind her as a support, she sank to the floor. There was another pain and then warm wetness between her legs. She knew what was happening now, knew how one story was going to end. She was losing the baby. “Oh no,” she whispered.

Unaware that Kate was miscarrying, Marie lashed out at her again. “Honestly, you’re a disgrace.”

Laura came out of her room and saw her mother on the floor and when Kate locked eyes with her daughter, awareness filled Laura’s eyes. She knew something was wrong. Her gaze drifted along her mother’s body and saw the dark stain growing between her legs. “Call an ambulance,” she said quietly.